JP2871960B2 - Printing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method and apparatus for receiving and printing data such as a control language from a host computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing apparatus, when data is received, and the data is analyzed and processed, a control language of the next data to be received is determined, and processing is switched to a process according to the control language. It was in a state where automatic switching was possible.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, when a series of data is received from the host device, such as when the amount of data from the host is large, the time interval between the data is widened. In this case, the printing apparatus determines that the data to be received has been completed and returns to a state in which the data can be automatically switched, and the data subsequent to the previously received data is not correctly analyzed, and the output is abnormal. there were. Further, the switching operation is performed every time data is interrupted, so that the processing may be delayed.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method and apparatus which can process received data accurately and quickly even if received data is interrupted.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and

In order to achieve the above object, the printing method of the present invention has the following arrangement.

A printing method for performing print output based on received data, comprising determining a rule governing the description of the received data, storing a determination result, and determining by the determining step. Processing the received data in accordance with the rules described above, and after receiving data processing in the processing step, processes data received before a predetermined time elapses according to the determination result stored in the determination step, For the data received after the lapse of time, the rule governing the data is determined again by the determination step, and if the data processed in the processing step is a predetermined command, the determination of the rule by the determination step is permitted.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

[0008] A printing apparatus for performing print output based on received data, wherein the determining unit determines what rule governs the description of the received data, and stores a determination result. Processing means for processing the received data in accordance with the rules described above, and output means for outputting the data processed by the processing means as an image. Data is processed in accordance with the determination result stored in the determination step, and for data received after a lapse of a predetermined time, a rule governing the data is determined again by the determination unit, and the data processed by the processing unit is If it is a predetermined command, the determination of the rule by the determination means is permitted.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer system according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer, which outputs print information including print data and control codes to a printer 2.

In the printer 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a buffer for storing received data, and reference numeral 22 denotes a CP for controlling the printer.
U and 23 are ROMs storing programs such as a control code discriminating process and a control language analyzing process for discriminating in which control language the received data is described and determining an analyzing means. Is a page buffer that stores the output image data of one page, 25 is a printer engine that outputs 25 bitmap memories to recording paper, and 3 is a printed output paper. The RAM 221 is a CPU
The timer 222 is used as a work area for the
Reference numeral 2 denotes a timer used, and the operation panel 27 includes a keyboard, switches, a display panel, and the like for directly giving an instruction input to the printer by an operator.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a conventional output processing program stored in the ROM 23. Step 1 will be described in order.

When the printing device has not received anything, it is in an automatically switchable state. Then, when data is received from the host computer (step S1), it is determined in which control language the data is described in accordance with the data content, and in accordance with the determination, the analysis of the specific control language is performed from the automatically switchable state. (Step S
2). In this case, as a basis for the determination, a method of determining based on an identifier of a control language attached to data or the like can be considered. Hereinafter, the state in which the control language describing the data is specified, and the control language to be analyzed is determined is referred to as the analysis processing state.

Thereafter, control commands are read one by one from the receiving buffer (step S3), and the commands are analyzed and processed (steps S4, S5, S6). When there is no more data in the reception buffer (step S4), the state returns to the automatic switchable state. If the command read from the reception buffer is a command that involves a paper discharging process (step S
5) The output image data is formed in the bitmap memory 25 (step S7), the printing process is performed, and the state returns to the automatically switchable state (step S8).

FIG. 3 illustrates a state transition pattern according to the conventional method described above.

[0016] That is, at the timing t _31, the first data received are processed to determine that it is the control language A from automatic switching state, the data is interrupted at the timing t ₃₂ (step S4 in FIG. 2) returning to automatic switching state, but to determine whether the data by which control language again receives the continuation of the data at a timing t _33,
In this case, it is determined that the data is not described in the control language A but in the control language B. For this reason, since data that should be processed as the control language A is processed as the control language B, the output result is completely different from what is originally intended. <Output Processing Procedure> Next, the processing procedure in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the program of this embodiment stored in the ROM 23.
Is received (step S41), it is determined whether the current state is an automatic switchable state (step S4).
2). The automatic switchable state is determined by the RAM 22
1 may be provided with a flag or the like indicating that fact, and the determination may be made based on the value.

If the result of determination in step S2 is that automatic switching is possible, it is determined what rule governs the description of the received data, that is, what the data description language is, and that rule, An analysis procedure suitable for the description language is determined, and the process proceeds to the analysis processing state (step S43). This result is stored in the RAM 221, and data received thereafter is analyzed by an analysis procedure based on the result determined and stored here. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S44. If it is already in the analysis processing state, step S43 is skipped and step S43 is left as it is.
Go to 44.

Subsequently, instructions are read one by one from the reception buffer (step S44), and the read instructions are processed while determining whether the data is completed (step S45) and testing whether or not there is a paper ejection processing instruction (step S48). (Step S49). In step S45, the reception buffer 21
If there is no more data, set a time to continue the analysis processing state after the data is completed (step S
46), the automatic switching is prohibited (step S47).
This can be realized by setting a time in the timer 222 and notifying the CPU by an interrupt or the like from the timer when the set time has expired. Further, the timer may be set not at the time when data is lost in the reception buffer 21 but at the time when reception from the host 1 is stopped.

When data is received from the host in this analysis processing state, the analysis processing is performed assuming that the same data as the control language being processed immediately before has been received. On the other hand, if the set time has elapsed, the processing procedure according to the flow of FIG. 6 is executed by using an interrupt signal or the like from the timer 222 as a trigger, and the state shifts to the automatic switching state.

If it is determined in step S48 that the command read from the receiving buffer is a command accompanied by a sheet discharging process, the process proceeds to an output process, and data in the bitmap memory 25 is formed as a visible image on a recording sheet (step S48). S5
0), and return to the automatically switchable state (step S5).
1) Output is performed on printing paper (step S52).

FIG. 5 illustrates the method of the present embodiment. This is the first data received are processed to determine that it is the control language A, but the data is interrupted at a timing t _51, prior to the time t ₅₃ to maintain the analysis processing state is set at that time, Having received more data at a timing t _52, an example in which analyzed process considers the data as a control language a.

A laser beam system may be used as the image forming mechanism of the printer of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) in this case. The LBP can input character pattern data or the like and print it on recording paper.

In the figure, 740 is an LBP main body,
An image is formed on recording paper, which is a recording medium, based on the supplied character pattern and the like. Reference numeral 700 denotes an operation panel on which a switch for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged.
Is a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 740 and analyzing character pattern information and the like. The printer control unit 701 mainly converts character pattern information into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 702.

The laser driver 702 is a semiconductor laser 70
And a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 703 in response to an input video signal.
04 is turned on / off. The laser beam 704 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 705 to scan on an electrostatic drum 706. Thus, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 706. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 707 around the electrostatic drum 706,
Transferred to recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 708 mounted on the LBP 740, is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 709 and transport rollers 710 and 711, and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 706. Is done.

The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment can be applied to an ink jet printer described below. <Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. 500
Reference numeral 2 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. 5007,50
Reference numeral 08 denotes a home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for sucking the inside of the cap.
, The suction recovery of the recording head is performed. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member which allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery.
It moves with the movement of 20, and the driving force from the driving motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at the corresponding position by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. If a desired operation is performed at a timing, any of the examples can be applied. <Description of Control Configuration> Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 1
700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 170
1 is an MPU, 1702 is a program ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is a dynamic ROM for storing various data (such as the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head).
Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array which controls supply of print data to the print head 1708.
It also controls data transfer between the MPU 700, MPU 1701, and RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 1708, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the head, and reference numerals 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the gate array 1
The recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the 704 and the MPU 1701. And the motor driver 1
The printheads 706 and 1707 are driven, and the printhead is driven according to the print data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.

It is apparent that the components of the present invention can be incorporated in the above-described control structure of the ink jet printer, and that the present invention is not limited to the laser beam printer but can be applied to the above ink jet printer and the like.

As described above, even if the data transmission is interrupted halfway when the amount of data to be printed is large,
Since the printer waits for the next data for a predetermined period of time, it can accurately process data received later. Further, the processing time can be reduced by eliminating useless switching operation.

In the present embodiment, the time for maintaining the analysis processing state is set in advance. However, the time can be set to an arbitrary time by a command from the host 1 or an operator input from the operation panel 27. It is also possible.

Further, when the host computer 1 connected to the printer 2 transmits a series of data, the time when the signal is interrupted in the middle is measured and stored, and the time for maintaining the analysis processing state is stored. Alternatively, an appropriate value may be automatically set based on the original value.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0034]

[Other Embodiments] In a conventional printing apparatus, when image data is output, if the resolution on the data side is different from the resolution on the printing apparatus side, the image data is processed by calculation. And the resolution of the printing device are matched to perform printing.

However, when printing a large number of images, there has been a problem that data processing takes a very long time.

In this embodiment, in order to match the resolution of the received image data with the resolution of the printing device, the printing device switches the resolution and outputs the received data as it is, thereby speeding up the printing process. The purpose is to make. <Structure> FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of the printer system of this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer which outputs print information including print data and control codes to the printer 2.

In the printer 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a buffer for storing received data, and reference numeral 22 denotes a CP for controlling the printer.
U and 23 are ROMs storing programs such as a control code discriminating process and a control language analyzing process for discriminating in which control language the received data is described and determining an analyzing means. Is a page buffer that stores the output image data of one page, 25 is a printer engine that outputs 25 bitmap memories to recording paper, and can switch recording resolution. . Reference numeral 3 denotes a printed output sheet. The outline font memory 28 stores pattern data generated from the code data. The RAM 221 is used as a work area or the like of the CPU, and the operation panel 27 includes a keyboard, switches, a display panel, and the like for directly giving an instruction input to the printer by an operator.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a command for specifying the resolution of image data sent from the host 1 to the printer 2 in the above configuration. As shown in the figure, starting from the command start code, the total number of bytes of the specified image data
The number of bytes and resolution are specified, followed by the command name, and the image data itself. The data received by the printer 2 includes image data, various control commands, and code data for generating a pattern from a font included in the printer 2.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing by the printer 2 when receiving image data with a designated resolution as shown in FIG. This flowchart is a procedure of a program stored in the ROM 23, and is realized by being executed by the CPU 22.

In FIG. 12, when data is first received from the host computer (step S121), the data is stored in the reception buffer and read out one command at a time (step S122). (Step S123), the command is analyzed, and processing corresponding to the command is performed (Step S124).

If the process involves paper discharge, it is determined whether the page is composed of only image data (step S125). If the page is composed of only image data, the resolution of the printer Switch to match the data resolution (step S12
6). Thereafter, image data is formed based on the command and the image data received in the bitmap memory (step S127), and printed out on recording paper (step S127).
128).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the received data is not only the image data, it is determined whether the received data includes image data (step S129). Is switched to match the resolution of the received image data (step S130), and a pattern matching the resolution of the engine 26 is generated for the code data (step S131).

On the other hand, if image data is not mixed in the received data, the resolution is switched to the highest resolution in order to obtain a high-quality print result (step S132), and a pattern matching the resolution is generated (step S132). S13
3). Thus, image data is formed in the bitmap memory 25 (step S127), and printout is performed (step S128).

Although image data is often obtained by reading using an image scanner, the resolution of the image scanner is often 300 dpi or 400 dpi.
i. Therefore, it is sufficient that the resolution of the printer 2 also corresponds to the resolution corresponding to the scanner.

A command sent from the host 1
Alternatively, the resolution can be specified by an instruction input by the operator from the operation panel 27. For example, in the case of a test print or the like, the output can be performed at a low resolution to speed up the processing.

As described above, when only the image data is sent from the host, if the resolution set in the printing device and the resolution of the received data are different, the setting of the resolution of the printing device is changed. By changing the resolution according to the received data, it is not necessary to adjust the resolution of the received data by performing processing such as thinning out, and it is possible to speed up the output processing and to reproduce and output the received image faithfully. . This is particularly effective when the printing device is used as a dumb printer. When the image data is not included in the received data, a high-quality output result can be obtained by generating a pattern at the highest resolution using an outline font.

[0048]

As described above, the printing method and apparatus according to the present invention have an effect that the received data can be processed accurately and quickly even if the received data is interrupted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of a conventional program.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state transition in a conventional printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a program in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state transition in the printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a program in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the laser beam printer.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ink jet printer.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the ink jet printer.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an example of a command for designating the resolution of image data in another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a program according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 2 ... Printer, 3 ... Output paper, 21 ... Receiving buffer, 22 ... CPU, 221 ... RAM, 222 ... Timer, 24 ... Page buffer memory, 25 ... Bitmap memory, 26 ... Printer engine, 27 ... Operation panel 28: Font memory.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-5-88822 (JP, A) JP-A-5-338329 (JP, A) JP-A-4-189154 (JP, A) JP-A-4-148430 (JP) JP-A-4-239314 (JP, A) JP-A-4-5742 (JP, A) JP-A-4-12876 (JP, A) JP-A-5-169736 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/38 B41J 2/05 G06F 3/12

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing method for performing print output based on received data, comprising: determining what rule governs the description of the received data;
A determination step of storing a determination result, and a processing step of processing the received data in accordance with a rule determined by the determination step; after the reception data processing in the processing step, the received data is received before a predetermined time has elapsed. Data is processed according to the determination result stored in the determination step, and for data received after a lapse of a predetermined time, a rule governing the data is determined again in the determination step, and the data processed in the processing step is A printing method characterized by allowing a rule to be determined in the determination step if the instruction is a predetermined command. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the processing after the reception data processing is performed after the data stored in the buffer storing the reception data is exhausted. 3. The printing method according to claim 1, further comprising an input step of inputting the predetermined time. 4. The printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of measuring a reception interval of the reception data, wherein the predetermined time is determined according to the interval. 5. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the data processed in the processing step is output for image recording by an electrophotographic method. 6. The data processed in the processing step is output for image recording by an ink jet recording head that discharges ink.
A printing device according to any one of the preceding claims. 7. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and is an inkjet recording head including a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 8. A printing device for performing print output based on received data, wherein the printing device determines what rule governs the description of the received data,
A determination unit that stores a determination result; a processing unit that processes the received data according to a rule determined by the determination unit; and an output unit that outputs the data processed by the processing unit as an image. After the reception data processing by the processing means, data received before a predetermined time elapses is processed according to the determination result stored in the determination step, and data received after the predetermined time elapses, the data received by the determination means is renewed by the determination means. A rule that governs the rule, and if the data processed by the processing unit is a predetermined command, the determination unit is allowed to determine the rule. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processing after the reception data processing is performed after the data stored in the buffer storing the reception data is exhausted. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an input unit for inputting the predetermined time. 11. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for measuring a reception interval of the reception data, wherein the predetermined time is determined according to the interval. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the image data by an electrophotographic method. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit has an ink jet recording head that discharges ink, and is an ink jet system that outputs an image using the recording head. Printing device. 14. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and is an ink jet recording head including a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: